Warwick lacrosse avenges tough losses to VC

Saturday

MONTGOMERY — Valley Central had won two straight games against Warwick on the lacrosse field, winning this season in overtime and in last year's playoffs with a goal in the final minute of regulation.

MONTGOMERY — Valley Central had won two straight games against Warwick on the lacrosse field, winning this season in overtime and in last year's playoffs with a goal in the final minute of regulation.

As Warwick senior attack Brian Connolly put it, "this game was all about revenge."

Connolly scored three goals and made two assists and sophomore attack Aaron Ackerman had five goals and one assist as No. 3 Warwick defeated No. 2 Valley Central in a Section 9 Class A semifinal, 12-4.

Warwick (14-4) will play No. 1 Minisink Valley in the Section 9 Class A championship game at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Faller Field at Middletown High School.

"There's nothing better than to be pumped up," Connolly said. "(Valley Central) lucked out last time, but we stuck it to them this time."

Valley Central (13-5) struck first, as Brett Jennings scored the game's first goal 4:12 into the first quarter. Ackerman and Connolly responded, scoring one goal apiece in the quarter as Warwick built a lead it never relinquished.

Warwick's Connor Leavell added three goals and Nick Daigle had one goal and one assist.

"After the last loss, we knew we had to work harder," Ackerman said. "We didn't play our best. We weren't ready. This time, we were ready."

Evan Floreck, a junior goalie, made nine saves for Warwick.

Warwick also made some changes on defense from the April 17 game, which Valley Central won in overtime, 9-8.

"We did that so we could have one of our stronger poles guarding their best dodger behind," Donnellan said. "We had two of our better poles guarding their catchers and finishers up top so we had a better look."

Jennings scored three goals and had one assist. Howell had one goal and Dahl made two assists for Valley Central.

Vikings goalie Carlos Villaman made eight saves.

"We always have great games against Valley Central," said Warwick head coach Graig McElroy. "They're consistently one of the top teams in the section. Any time we play them we expect it to be a great game.

"It's certainly good to at least absolve what happened this season in the overtime loss," he continued. "That was a tough game. It's one of those games you wish you could have back and to come out today and play the way we did was nice."

wmontgomery@th-record.com

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